[magentabluesky]

Little Mountain was an ideal Hang Gliding venue. The natural mountain was in a bowl shape perfectly collecting the prevailing southwesterly sea breeze.

I just wonder if we could get the approval to fly Little Mountain again? You guys were so good with the County of Los Angeles.

Little Mountain
From 1971 through 1976 there was ever increasing flight traffic at a 500 foot hill in San Bernardino called Little Mountain (by the radio towers) . . . .

By 1976, with the city a San Bernardino subject to legal pressure to close Little Mountain, the pilots formed the San Bernardino Hang Gliding Association (Chapter 16 of the USHGA) in attempt to organize and apply pressure to keep Little Mountain open. In Feb 1978 a city ordinance was adopted that all hang gliding activities are illegal within San Bernardino City Limits. Link

Chapter 12.88 HANG GLIDING

Sections:
12.88.010 Definition - Activity restricted except in certain places
12.88.020 Violation – Penalty

12.88.010 Definition - Activity restricted except in certain places

It is unlawful for any person to engage in the activity of hang gliding in or over any place within the City limits except in those places recommended by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and approved by the Mayor and Common Council. As used in this Chapter, "hang gliding" means any activity whereby any person or persons glide, float or sail through the air in or on a hang glider. A "hang glider "means a glider, kite, hot air balloon, device or contrivance so constructed that it will carry a person on wind, air or human power.
(Ord. MC-460, 5-15-85; Ord. 3704, 2-09-78)

12.88.020 Violation – Penalty

Any person, firm or corporation violating or causing the violation of any provision
of this Chapter is guilty of an infraction, which upon conviction thereof is punishable in
accordance with the provisions of Section 1.12.010 of this Code.
(Ord. MC-460, 5-15-85; Ord. 3704, 2-09-78)

The San Bernardino City Municipal Code just requires a recommendation by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and approval by the Mayor and Common Council. Maybe we should send Frank and Joe.

Don’t know who owns the land for takeoff. I was up there quite a few years ago and the place was a dump with abandoned appliances scattered about. It was always cleaned up when we flew there in the 1970’s. That should be a good selling point.

While there are houses at the base, there could be a designated landing spot at Blair Park (San Bernardino City Park).

Before there is a proposal to the city, operational rules could be drawn up including designated landing safety personal in Blair Park for safety - red cones for the landing area.

Little Mountain was such a great Hang Gliding spot. It sure would be great to fly there again.

[Frank Colver]

I always enjoyed flying Little Mountain and I flew RC gliders there before hang gliding started in 1971.

I was under the impression that there was no LZ left after the houses were built. If that's not the case then it would be great to get it open again. But it probably would be swamped with PG's now.

Also, how about getting the fantastic training hill at "Little Norco" back. The entire site is still good, I think it is in a natural preserve owned by Riverside.

Frank

[magentabluesky]

The Little Norco Hill is 2.40miles from the end of the runway of the Riverside Municipal Airport KRAL. Since the Little Norco Hill is within the Class D airspace, permission from the KRAL ATC would be needed. I don’t see a problem as a Hang Glider does not get high enough at the Little Norco Hill to interfere with the air traffic at the airport. A letter of agreement from the FAA should be all that is needed.

The top of Little Norco Hill is 800 yards east of the Corona RC Club’s Field. If you contact the Corona RC Club they would be able to fill you in on whom to get permission for the use of the Norco Hill. You should fit right in with the RC group, Frank.

mg